LETTER: Unimpressed with ‘small’ business owner’s comments about St. John’s tax hike

I read an article in another news publication yesterday which has left me angry and disheartened with Brenda O’Reilly, partial owner of O’Reilly’s Pub and YellowBelly Brewery, and her so called “small businesses.”

As we all know, the city of St. John’s raised taxes for the upcoming fiscal year, and O’Reilly’s comparison of her business to the rest of the small-business community has left me wondering if I will ever frequent one of her establishments again. Ever.

O’Reilly indicates in the article that she employs over 200 people at her businesses. This is hardly the employment history of any of the small storefront businesses in the downtown core. Sobeys or Walmart don’t hold similar employment numbers in any one store, so how does this qualify O’Reilly’s businesses as “small” in stature?

The employment history of her businesses was discussed after she made her feelings about a $4,900 tax hike at YellowBelly known. She indicated this increase will cost her business jobs. A $4,900 increase in taxes for the year means the monthly cost is a little over $408. I would like to know who O’Reilly employs and what they do that they only costs her $408 a month? How many positions does she think this $408 a month is going to cost her?

I’d like to see a comparison between O’Reilly’s car and house and that of her employees, not to mention tax returns. Didn’t she just buy a church which is intended to become her next great business venture, namely another brewery and restaurant?

The remark she made that truly pounds my riggings anyway is the point at which she demonstrates that the city is giving lodging administrations which are a copy to administrations being given by the area, and that as opposed to expanding charges the city ought to have cut a portion of these copy administrations to set aside extra cash.

Does she know who this lodging is for and what sort of administration it is giving? These are low salary families who require this sponsored lodging choices to endure.

There is a decent chance that not very many of the general population benefiting of these administrations visit her organizations routinely, if at all.

I have been a dedicated and liberal benefactor of O’Reilly’s for quite a long time. In the event that I visit George Street for an event, multiple times out of 10 I go to O’Reilly’s Pub in light of the fact that no other bar holds a comparative environment as O’Reilly’s. I will genuinely miss the great occasions I have appreciated there, however decline to help (it now). I have talked about this issue with loved ones who hold comparative perspectives.

And I truly feel for the actual small businesses that are going to be hurt by this tax rate increase.